Boro, winter vegetable farming uncertain

Boro paddy and winter vegetable cultivation has become uncertain as no dam is built on the canal in Pakhimara area under Kalapara upazila this year for prevention of saline water intrusion towards fields, much to the worry of farmers. 

The upazila parishad gives a grant of Tk 50,000 to the farmers every year to build a temporary dam, but this year they are not getting the grant due to fund crisis.

As a result, about 3,000 farmers of ten villages including Pakhimara, Kumirmara, Majidpur and Alempur are facing uncertainty over cultivation of Boro paddy and winter vegetables. 

Local farmers said there is sluice gate at the mouth of Pakhimara canal. The canal is directly connected to the Andhamanik river. The sluice gate lies damaged for long due to lack of repair. As a result, saline water enters the fields through the damaged gate.

Every year the farmers of the villages take initiative to prevent intrusion of saline water by making earthen dam in front of the sluice gate. They also get a grant of Tk 50,000 from the upazila parishad for construction of the dam.

The growers are very worried now as they are not getting grant from the parishad this year due to fund crisis.

Sultan Gazi, a farmer from Alempur village, said they receive financial assistance from the upazila parishad every year to build the dam on the canal. But this year they are not getting the assistance.

As a result, 3,000 farmers are facing uncertainty over boro and seasonal vegetable cultivation, he said.

This year, heavy rains have damaged early winter vegetable plants, he added.

Zakir Gazi, a farmer from Kumirmara village, said if the dam is built, 3,000 famers of the ten villages will be able to produce agricultural products worth about Tk 5 crore.

Once the saline water enters the canal from the river, all the farmers will have to count huge losses, said Zakir.

Abul Hossain, a farmer from Islampur village, said due to saltwater intrusion, farmers of Kumirmara, Majidpur, Sonatala, Pakhimara, Naobhanga, Gamiratala, Alempur, Neyamatpur, Islampur and Gutabachha villages will also be affected.

He added that this year most of the farmers are taking preparation to cultivate Boro as the price of the paddy is good. Many are preparing seedbeds. But if the dam is not built, everything will be ruined.

Chairman of Kalapara Upazila Parishad Rakibul Ahsan said this year the upazila parishad cannot help the farmers financially to build the dam due to fund crisis.